Streptococcal infection-related autoimmunity and autism: crosstalk in protein functional networks

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopment dysfunctions causing behavioral abnormalities in social, verbal and non-verbal communication. The precise aetiology of ASD is unknown but it is likely to be the outcome of a combination of genetic, neurological, environmental and immunological factors. Streptococcal infection can induce tick disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) which are described as ‘co morbid’ ASD, however the link between the outcomes or susceptibility to the infection and ASD is not clear. In this study we aimed to establish, via data mining and convergent genomics analysis, functional interactions between the targets of auto-antigens produced during Streptococcal infection, and genes linked to ASD via genome wide association and experimental studies. The results point towards a relation of immune and, particularly, autoimmune responses caused by Streptococcal infection to functions associated with ASD disorder. Our study also highlights a need in further experimental research into an autoimmune aetiology of autism and movement disorders characteristic for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). Correspondence to: Olga VasievaPhD, Senior Systems Biology Analyst, Honorary LecturerUniversity of Liverpool, DirectorIngenet Ltd, UK